Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the (Acting) Returning Officer.

The Council was reminded that, at its meeting on 9 October 2019, it had considered a report on a review of the polling districts and polling stations in the borough. At that meeting a revised schedule of polling districts and polling places had been agreed, with decisions deferred relating to the Frimley Ward and Windlesham (South) polling district.

The Council considered the options for polling districts and polling places in Frimley ward. It was noted that Lakeside School, the designated polling place for Frimley (East) polling district, was now the only school in the borough used as a polling place. Members were reminded that, during the consultation, representations had been received from the School on the need to close the School on polling day and the consequent disruption. Options for using alternative sites within the School, which would enable it to remain open on polling day, had been reviewed but were not considered to be suitable.

The alternative options for polling places in the ward were noted and it reported that no suitable alternative had been identified. It was therefore proposed to create a single polling district in the Frimley ward and to designate St Peters Church Hall, which was already used as a polling place, as the polling place for all Frimley ward.

The Council noted the current position on polling arrangements for Windlesham (South) polling district. Members were reminded that Chertsey Road Hall had been sold and the new owners of the Hall had not yet indicated whether it would continue to be available for use as a polling station. Investigations on alternative premises were continuing but were unlikely to be resolved before the New Year. It was therefore proposed to delegate the decision on the allocation of a polling place for Windlesham (South) polling district to the (Acting) Returning Officer in consultation with ward councillors

RESOLVED that

(i)        a single polling district be created for the Frimley ward and the designated polling place for all voters beSt Peters Church Hall, Parsonage Way, Frimley;

(ii)      investigations continue to identify a polling place for NA-Windlesham (South) polling district; and

(iii)     the (Acting) Returning Officer, after appropriate public consultation, including consultation with ward councillors, be authorised to designate a polling place for the NA-Windlesham (South) polling district; the decision to be reported to Council at the earliest opportunity.